Bag dispenser with dispensing wheel



Mai'ch 31, 1970 s. s. BRENNER 3,503,431

BAG DISPENSER WITH DISPENSING WHEEL Filed March 25, 1968 //VVE/V70Rsmnasy BRENNER MZ-fM Amy/wry United States Patent 0 3,503,481 BAGDISPENSER WITH DISPENSING WHEEL Stanley S. Brenner, Massapequa, N.Y.,assignor to John R. Lebb Distributors Inc., New York, N.Y. Filed Mar.25, 1968, Ser. No. 715,935 Int. Cl. G07f 11/00; B65g 59/00; B65h 3/02U.S. Cl. 19410 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure isdirected to a bag dispenser and more and more specifically to a coinactuator dispenser for dispensing plastic shopping bags. The dispensercomprises essentially a housing for containing a stack of superposedplastic bags in which a means is provided for individually dispensingthe bags one at a time by peeling off the uppermost bag from the stackof bags each time a coin of proper denomination is inserted into thecoin slot of the machine.

PROBLEMS AND PRIOR ART Many retail outlets make shopping bags availablefor the convenience of their customers. Heretofore such shopping bagswere distributed from dispensers located at strategic positionsthroughout the retail outlet. Such bag dispensers generally comprised anopen stand or rack from which the shopping bags were purchased bycustomers who so desired them. Because the shopping bags constituted amere complimentary service on the part of the retail outlet, theshopping bag dispensing stands were generally left unattended. For thisreason the respective owners of such retail outlets relied solely oncustomers honor and good will to pay for the shopping bag. This :wasaccomplished by simply locating a coin box adjacent e an open stand onwhich such shopping bags were hung, with the store owner relying on thecustomers integrity to deposit the proper coin if such bag waspurchased. However operators of such outlets soon experienced thatdispensing of shopping bags in this manner was not entirelysatisfactory, as many purchasers would help themselves to the bagswithout paying for them.

To obviate the loss of revenue resulting in dispensing of such shoppingbags by customers on an honor system,

efforts have been made to develop coin operated dispensing means whichwould probihit the removal of shopping bags until a coin of properdenomination has been deposited.

Because such shopping bags were heretofore generally formed of a papermaterial, the coin operated dispensers which have been developed arecapable of dispensing shopping bags made of a paper material only.Examples of such shopping bag dispensers are illustrated in my copendingapplication, Ser. No. 590,060, filed Jan. 11, 1968, now Patent No.3,379,296, and by prior U.S. patents such as Patent No. 3,119,484.However the manufacturers of shopping bags recently have been tendingtoward the manufacture of such shopping bags from a plastic material,e.g. polyethylene, instead of paper. Also the construction of theshopping bag as a result of the change in material has also undergonesome radical constructional changes. Due to the constructional changesmade in such shopping bags, they cannot be adequately dispensed from theknown shopping bag dispensers. Generally the newly constructed shoppingbags consist of a plastic envelope 'ice one at a time each time a coinof proper denomination has been deposited into the coin slot of thedispenser.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a dispenser whichis particularly adapted to automatically elfect the dispensing ofplastic type shopping bags, one at a time, each time a coin of properdenomination is deposited therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin operated dispenserfor dispensing plastic shopping bags which is electrical-mechanical inoperation so as to render the operation of the dispenser positive duringa dispensing operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plastic shopping bagdispenser which is of relatively simple construction, positive inoperation, and relatively inexpensive to fabricate and to operate.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shopping bag dispenserin 'which shopping bags are completely housed so that pilferage of thebags is rendered impossible and from which a bag will not be dispensedunless a proper coin is deposited.

,SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objects, and other features andadvantages of the invention are attained by a housing for enclosingtherein a stack of superposed plastic bags. A dispensing means isdisposed within the housing for effecting the dispensing of the bags oneat a time from the stack of bags within the housing. The dispensingmeans comprises a movable carrier having a dispensing wheel rotatablyjournaled thereto which is adapted to be disposed in rolling engagementwith the uppermost bag of the stack. A means is operatively associatedwith the carrier and wheel to counterbalance or bias the dispensingwheel with a predetermined force against the uppermost bag of saidstack. The amount of force which the wheel exerts on the uppermost bagis just sufficient to insure displacement or peeling off of only theuppermost bag whenever the dispensing means is actuated. A means isprovided to effect rotation or drive of the dispensing wheel to effectthe displacement or peeling of the uppermost bag from the stack of bagseach time the drive is actuated, and a means is provided for determiningthe rotation of the dispensing wheel when the uppermost bag has movedbeyond rolling engagement with the wheel. In this manner the dispensingof the next succeeding bag is prohibited until such time that anadditional coin is deposited within the meter. Means are also providedfor indicating when the number of bags contained within the dispenserfalls below a predetermined number so that an operator will be alertedas to when the supply of bags is to be replenished.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of a dispenserhaving a dispensing wheel which is disposed in n0n-slipping arrangementwith the uppermost bag of a stack of such bags so that only one bag willbe peeled off the top of the stack each time the wheel is renderedoperative.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of adispenser of plastic shopping bags which can be readily loaded into thehousing of the dispenser with a minimum of effort and a maximum of ease.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a plasticbag dispenser in which the bags to be dispensed can be simply stackedwithin the housing of the dispenser one on the other.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a plasticshopping bag dispenser having a relatively simple control circuitoperatively associated with the dispensing mechanism to effect thecontrol thereof.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a shoppingbag dispenser wherein the slippery characteristics of the plasticmaterial, from which such bags are made, is utilized to efl ect thedispensing of the shopping bag.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent whenconsidered in view of thedrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view of the shopping bag dispenser ofthis invention having portions thereof broken away.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the dispensing means takenalong line 2-2 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit by which thedispenser of FIGURE 1 is actuated.

FIGURE 4 is a detailed view of the type of plastic shopping bag of thetype dispensed by the dispensing apparatus of this invention.

Referring to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 4 there isdisclosed therein a shopping bag construction which comprises anenvelope 11 formed of a plastic material, e.g. polyethylene or the like,which has formed adjacent the open end thereof a loop or hem 11A throughwhich a draw string 12 is threaded. A central portion and end portionsof the hem are cut away as at 13 and 14 to expose the draw string 12whereby the same may be pulled to close the bag, or form a handle. Suchplastic shopping bags 10 form a much more appealing and strongerconstruction than the conventional paper type shopping bags heretoforeutilized. Furthermore, the plastic bag 10 with draw string 12 provides aclosure not possible with the paper construction. Because of theconvenience, attractiveness and advantages attained by plastic shoppingbags of the type illustrated in FIGURE 4, more of the manufacturers aregoing to the construction of plastic shopping bags, as distinguishedfrom the paper type shopping bags.

Because of this development considerable difiiculties have beenencountered in dispensing plastic type shopping bags. This is becausethe inherent characteristic of the material from'which such plasticshopping bags are made and the specific construction thereof does notmake such bags readily dispensible from the known bag dispensers.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a coin actuated dispensing device 15 fromwhich plastic shopping bags 10 of the type herein described can bereadily dispensed. The dispenser drive 15 comprises a housing 16 definedby front and rear panels 17, 18 interconnected by side panels 19, 20 andclosed at the top and bottom by means of a top panel 21 and a bottompanel 22. A rear or back wall 23 is provided within the enclosure 24 ofthe housing 16 which inclines upwardly and rearwardly at an angle towardthe back panel 18. Intermediate the height of the enclosure 24 definedby the housing 16 there is provided a bottom wall 25 which is preferablydisposed at an angle of ninety degrees to the back wall 23. Because ofthe inherent characteristic of the plastic bags, which are generallyformed of a polyethylene type plastic, to slide and slip when stackedone on the other, there is provided in the bottom wall 24 a hump 25Adisposed intermediate the front and rear edges and extendingtransversely thereof. As best seen in FIG. 1, the arrangement is suchthat when a stack of plastic bags are superimposed one on the other onthe bottom wall 25 they are arcuately deformed and tend to lean towardthe back wall. Thus the angle at which the stack is disposed is suchthat there is no tendency of any of the bags in the stack to slideforwardly.

The front edge of the bottom wall 25 is provided with an apron 26 whichextends downwardly therefrom. The lower edge of the apron 26 is providedwith an upwardly turned lip 27 arranged to communicate with a slottedopening 28 formed in the front panel 17 through which a bag isdispensed.

In the described dispenser 15 the bags 10 to be dispensed are requiredto be merely stacked one on the other within the enclosure, and theshape of the bottom wall 25 is such that the column of bags stackedtherein will assume a concave arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 1. Itwill be understood that suitable access may be had to the interior ofthe housing side wall for loading the bags thereinto.

Referring to FIG. 4 it is to be noted that the portion of the bagadjacent the looped end through which the draw string is positionedforms a portion which is somewhat thicker than the bottom portion of thebag. Accordingly in stacking the bags within the dispenser 15, it is tobe noted, that the bags are alternately stacked so that the height ofthe stack at the opposed ends thereof are rendered substantiallyuniform. Accordingly as noted in FIG. 1, the open end portion of therespective bags 10 are alternately disposed.

Within the housing a means 29 is disposed for effecting the dispensingof the uppermost bag 10A of the stack each time a coin is deposited. Inthe illustrated form of the invention the dispensing means 29 comprise acarrier 30 which is movably mounted on the back wall 23 of the housing.The carrier 30 is defined as an L-shaped rod member in which one legportion 30A thereof is rotatably journaled between a pair of spacedbrackets 31-31 which are connected to the rear wall 23. The other legportion 308 of the carrier 30 extends inwardly of the housing so as tobe disposed above the uppermost bag 10A of the stack. Rotatablyjournaled to theextended end of the carrier is a dispensing wheel 32. Asshown, the wheel 32 is rotatably journaled in a suitable bearing 33carried on the extended end of the carrier 30. A motor means 34 isoperatively connected to the wheel 32 to drive the dispensing-wheel 32each time the motor 34 is energized.

Because of the inherent characteristic of the material from which theplastic bags are made, an important consideration of this invention isthat the force which the dispensing wheel 32 is required to exertagainst the uppermost bag 10A of the stack must be such that only theuppermost bag 10A is dispensed or peeled off the top of the stack eachtime that the dispensing wheel is actuated. This force is controlled bycounterbalancing or biasing the dispensing wheel in a manner now to bedescribed. A counterbalancing or biasing means in the form of a coilspring 35 is disposed about the leg portion 30A of the carrier 39. Asshown, one end 35A of the spring 35 is fixedly secured to a supportingbracket 31 of the carrier. The other end 35B of the spring 35 is securedto a collar 36 which is rotatably journaled about the leg portion 30A ofthe carrier 30. As shown, a set screw 37 is provided to fixedly securethe collar 36 in an adjusted position to the leg portion 30A of thecarrier. Accordingly it will be noted that by effecting rotation of thecollar 36 about the leg of the carrier, that the tension of the springcan be adjusted thereby varying the force which the carrier will causethe wheel 32 carried thereon to bear on the bags 10.

In this manner the tension of the spring 35 can be adjusted the amountdesired to effect individual dispensing of the uppermost bag each timethe dispensing wheel is energized. Experience has shown that a force of/2 lb. pressure has proven to be satisfactory.

The circuit 39 by which the dispensing wheel is energized when a coin isdeposited is illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown therein a normally opencoin switch 40 is disposed in the line 41 to the motor means 34 so as tobe in series therewith. A normally closed bag actuated switch 42 is alsoconnected in line 41 in series with the normally open coin actuatingswitch 40. A normally open relay switch 43 is connected in parallel tothe coin switch 40 with the coil 44 of the relay being disposed inparallel to the motor 34.

In accordance with this invention the circuit 39 is also provided withmeans for indicating when the number of bags in the stack falls below apredetermined limit and/ or when the bags are to be replenished. Suchindicating means may comprise a light 45 which is physically disposedbehind a legend 46 reading Empty located at an appropriate position onthe front of the housing. As noted in the circuit diagram of FIG. 3, theindicating light 45 is electrically connected in line 46 which connectsto one terminal 47 of a double pole, double throw switch 48 which hasthe normally closed terminals disposed in line 41. In the illustratedposition of FIG. 3 the double pole, double throw switch 48 is normallyin closed position when a stack or supply of shopping bags are disposedwithin the housing. Physically double pole switch 48 is disposed in thepath of travel of bags 30B. Connected to the carrier 30 is an actuator48A which will function to actuate switch 48 to open line 41 and closethe circuit to the light 45 whenever the bag supply is exhausted ornearly so. Thus when the switch 48 is actuated from its normally closedposition as shown to engage contact 47, the circuit to the motor isopened, and the circuit to the indicating light is closed. When thecircuit to the light 45 is made, the actuation of the dispensing means29 is rendered impossible until a new supply of bags is disposed withinthe housing at which time the actuator 48A permits switch 48 to returnto its normal position as shown in FIG. 3.

The operation of the dispenser is as follows. A stack of plastic bags 10is disposed within the housing 16 so as to be located below thedispensing Wheel 32, With the stack of bags disposed within the housingand the wheel 32 resting on the uppermost bag 10A of the stack, a singlebag will be automaticallydispensed or peeled off the top of the stackeach time a coin is deposited into the coin slot 49 of the coin meter.Whenever a coin of proper denomination is inserted into the coin slot 49of the coin meter, the coin will actuate a coin switch 40, tomomentarily close the circuit to the motor and the relay coil inparallel therewith whereupon the relay coil maintains the relay switch43 in a closed position so long as the relay coil is energized. With therelay switch 43 closed current will flow from the source, through thenormally closed double pole, double throw switch 48, through thenormally closed bag switch 42 and closed relay switch 43 to the motor34. With the motor 34 energized, the dispensing wheel will rotate, andin doing so will peel off the uppermost bag 10A of the stack. As theuppermost bag 10A is being peeled off, it is'directed over the apron 26toward the dispensing slot 28 of the dispenser. As best seen in FIG. 1,the bag actuating switch 42 is located on the apron 26 of the bottomwall and it is positioned so as to be actuated by the leading end of thebag as the trailing end of the bag clears or moves out from theengagement with the dispensing wheel 32. As soon as the leading edge ofthe bag engages the normally closed bag actuating switch 42 to open thesame, the circuit to the motor 34 is opened, thereby causing the motorto be deenergized and the rotation of the dispensing wheel 32 to cease.Since the uppermost bag 10A has advanced beyond engagement with thedispensing wheel 32, the bag is positioned so that it will fall to theslot 28 by gravity, and as the bag passes switch 42 the latter will moveto its normallly closed position to ready the circuit for the nextdispensing operation. Thus each time a coin is deposited in the coinslot 49 of the coin meter, a bag will be successively dispensed one at atime. When the last bag has been dispensed the weight of the carrier 30,the dispensing roller 32 and motor 34 supported thereon will cause thedouble pole double throw switch 48 to be actuated by the actuator 48Awhereby the circuit to the motor is open and the circuit to theindicating light is closed. When the light 45 is en ergized the operatorwill know that the supply of bags within the dispenser are or are aboutto be exhausted, and that the dispenser is ready for loading. As a newstack or supply of bags is disposed in the dispenser, the carrier andthe wheel therein are raised thereby causing the double pole, doublethrow switch 48 to be automatically returned to its initial positionwherein circuit to the indicating light 45 is opened and the circuit tothe motor means placed in readiness to dispense the uppermost bagwhenever a coin is deposited in the coin meter.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the dispensing apparatus 15comprises a relatively simple and positive means whereby plastic bagscan be readily dispensed one at a time each time a coin is deposited inthe dispenser. The arrangement is such that the dispensing Wheel isarranged so as to bear upon the uppermost bag 10A of the stack ofshopping bags with a predetermined force which insures that only anindividual bag will be dis pensed each time the dispensing wheel isactuated, and that the circuit is actuated only when a proper coin ofproper denomination has been deposited in the coin slot 49.

While the invention has been described with respect to a particularembodiment thereof, it will be appreciated and understood thatvariations and modifications may be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for individually dispensing shopping bags comprising ahousing adapted to enclose a stack of shopping bag said housingincluding a back wall,

a bottom wall connected to said back wall for supporting said stack ofshopping bags within said housing,

said bottom wall terminating adjacent a slot defined in said housingthrough which a bag is to be dispensed,

means disposed within said housing for effecting the dispensing of a bagfrom said stack of bags,

said latter means including a dispensing wheel rotatably journalledwithin said housing and adapted to be disposed in rolling engagementwith the uppermost bag of said stack,

means for biasing said dispensing wheel with a pre determined force ontosaid uppermost bag of said stack,

means for effecting rotation of said dispensing wheel for effecting thedisplacement of said uppermost bag through said slot,

and means for ceasing the rotation of said wheel when said uppermost baghas moved beyond rolling engagement with said wheel,

a circuit operatively connected between said means for effectingrotation of said dispensing wheel and said means for ceasing therotation of said wheel,

and including means disposed in said circuit to automatically open saidcircuit when said stack falls below a predetermined height.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said bottom wall isformed with an upwardly arcuately formed hump disposed intermediatethereof so as to upwardly arch the respective bags in said stack.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said back wall isinclined upwardly and rearwardly and said bottom wall extends forwardlytherefrom at a substantially angle relative thereto.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said dispensing meansincludes a carrier means for movably supporting said dispensing wheelmeans within said housing whereby said wheel may be progressivelylowered as the stack of said shopping bags is depleted.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said carrier meansincludes a lever arm pivotally supported within said housing,

and said biasing means including a coil spring operating said lever arm.

'6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said circuit includes anormally opened coin switch adapted to be closed by a coin connected incircuit to said means for effecting rotation of said wheel,

and a normally closed bag switch connected in said circuit,

said bag switch being disposed adjacent said slot to be actuated by saidbag.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including an indicating meansconnected in said circuit to provide a visual signal to indicate whensaid circuit is automatically opened.

8. A coin actuated dispenser for dispensing plastic shopping bagscomprising a housing defining an enclosure,

an upwardly and rearwardly inclined back wall disposed within saidhousing,

a bottom wall adapted to support a stack of plastic bags connected tosaid rear wall at substantially 90 thereto,

said bottom wall being formed with an arcuate hump intermediate the endthereof whereby the bags stacked thereon are adapted to conform to theconcave shape thereof,

a dispensing means movably supported within said housing,

said dispensing means including a carrier pivotally mounted within thehousing,

a dispensing wheel rotatably journalled on said carrier whereby saidwheel is disposed in rolling engagement with the uppermost bag of saidstack,

means for counterbalancing the Weight of said wheel whereby it isdisposed in rolling engagement with the uppermost bag with apredetermined force,

means for adjusting the force with which said wheel acts on said stackof bags,

motor means operatively connected to said wheel to effect the drivethereof,

and a circuit means for controlling the actuation of said motor means.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said circuit includes anormally open coin switch connected in series with said motor,

a normally closed bag switch connected in series with said coin switch,said bag switch being disposed adjacent said dispensing slot in the pathof the bag being dispensed whereby said bag switch is actuated thereby,and a relay means including a relay switch disposed in parallel to saidcoin switch and a relay coil in parallel to said motor whereby saidrelay means is actuated when said coin switch is momentarily closed. 10.The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said carrier comprises anL-shaped member having one leg portion rotatably journalled on said rearwall and having its other leg portion extending over said stack of bags,

and said counterbalancing means including a coil spring wound about saidone leg portion.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said adjusting meanscomprises a rotatable collar mounted on said one leg of said carrier,

means for anchoring one end of said spring on said collar,

and means for fixedly securing the other end of said spring.

12. A dispenser for dispensing an article comprising a housing forenclosing a stack of superposed articles to be dispensed,

a coin actuated dispensing means disposed within said housing fordispensing an individual article from said stack of articles,

said dispensing means including a rotatably journalled dispensing wheel,

means for biasing said dispenser Wheel in rolling engagement onto theuppermost article of said stack with a predetermined force,

means for effecting rotation of said dispensing wheel for effectingdisplacement of said uppermost article in rolling engagement therewith,

means for ceasing the rotation of said wheel when the uppermost articlehas moved beyond rolling engagement with said wheel,

a circuit operatively connected between said means for effectingrotation of the dispensing wheel and said means for ceasing the rotationof said wheel,

and means disposed in said circuit to automatically open said circuitwhen said stack of articles falls below a predetermined height.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,918,460 7/1933 'Eccardt 221-43X 3,107,770 10/1963 Short 221-210 X 3,246,797 4/1966 Hoenisch 22113STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 22l259

